William and Harry's candid confessions about struggling to cope after the death of their mother led to an outpouring of emotion from viewers last night.

Millions tuned in to ITV to watch the brothers discuss the gap left in their lives as they came to terms with growing up without a mother.

The moving documentary struck a chord with viewers as the pair relived their grief and spoke to friends of Princess Diana, including Elton John, and shared memories ahead of the 20th anniversary of her death.

Millions tuned in to ITV to watch the brothers discuss the gap left in their lives as they came to terms with growing up without a mother

Celebrities led the way as they praised Prince William and Harry and paid tribute to the late princess

In the ITV documentary Diana, Our Mother the princes spoke honestly about their relationship with Diana and their 'still raw' grief at her death.

And viewers were left emotional as the royals revealed never seen before pictures of the princess as she attempted to give them a 'normal' childhood.

Celebrities led the way as they praised the pair. Presenter Fearne Cotton tweeted she was an 'emotional wreck' watching the show.

The programme was watched by 7.4m viewers at its peak, and 6.8 million on average.

This compares to 1.6million for ITV's election leader's debate, and an average of 2.6 million for the Love Island final.

Many viewers said they wanted to give the princes 'a hug' while others praised their bravery adding the pair were 'Diana's greatest legacy'

William and Harry said they wanted to speak publicly to pay tribute to their mother, ahead of the 20th anniversary of her death in August 1997, and to protect her memory.

The 20th anniversary of her death will be marked with a statue of Diana erected in a place she knew well, the public gardens of her former home Kensington Palace.

Prince William said he wanted people to see 'the warmth, the humour and what she was like as a mother', and of the brothers' desire to see her legacy 'live on in our work'.

The film opened with a love letter from two little boys to the adored mother they lost so suddenly.

Many viewers said they wanted to give the princes 'a hug' while others praised their bravery adding the pair were 'Diana's greatest legacy'.

Prince Harry and Prince William looking at a family photo album in Kensington Palace in the documentary, Diana, Our Mother

Producers approached Kensington Palace more than a year ago, seeking permission for a programme to mark the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death. They were invited to meet the princes and discussed Diana’s legacy, but also their personal memories.

And Prince Harry himself was almost reduced to tears by the new film about his mother.

He called producers after seeing it and said: ‘I nearly cried several times watching it back.’

The prince admitted his grief was ‘still raw’, but praised last night's film as ‘brilliant’.